Paulton got back to winning ways with their third game in a week against a lively Melksham side last Friday night.

Rovers started off dominating play and after a neat move from full back, Keiran Baggs, involving Mike Bryant and Jon Davies, the ball found Brandon Barnes to drive past Tom Drewitt to make it 1–0 for the visitors after only four minutes. It was all Rovers as youngster, Tyson Pollard, brought a fine save from Drewitt and Dean Evans twice drove wide. Evans made it 2–0 after 21 minutes.

Melksham Town were pushing and testing Paulton's defence with centre forward, Nick Rideout, proving a handful and he drew a mistake from the otherwise solid Ryan Batten, but Batten recovered to win the tackle from the big striker.

The second period started with more of the same from the visitors, gradually Melksham responded and eased back into the game. Former Rovers Manager, Darren Perrin, now in charge at Melksham Town, got his side to up their game, inspired by Mike Perrott, who will be on dual forms with both clubs. A hero of last season's promotion chase, he has problems committing to Southern League football because of the travelling.

Town had two excellent chances to score, first though Rideout, blocked by Batten. Then Phillips saved from substitute, Dan Kovacs. Davies, working tirelessly up front for Paulton, shot narrowly over the bar, after being played in by substitute, Callum Hinder, another product of Rovers' Youth Team.

Then Davies' passed to another substitute, Billy Vaughan, whose neat delicate chip narrowly went over the bar. Melksham hit back with Phillips again saving from Kovacs and Rideout spent too much time on the ball. Thompson made a last ditch tackle to prevent Evans and Mapstone headed over the bar from a last-minute Barnes corner.

Tony Walsh